Johnnie Walker

Known amongst blended whisky lovers as one of the top premium Scotch blends, Johnnie Walker is a brand which needs little introduction. Johnnie Walker Black Label remains a backbar standard, and the renowned Blue Label is often the first choice for many Scotch drinkers when considering a top-dollar malt.

The company started out life in the 19th century, when John “Johnnie” Walker began selling whisky from his grocery shop in Ayrshire, Scotland. His blends were very popular at the time, but it wasn’t until his death in 1857, when the company was inherited by Alexander Walker, that the brand really took off. Alexander, with his son Alexander Walker II, firmly established the business and began marketing Walker’s Old Highland - a blended Scotch whisky - in 1865. Five years later, their whisky was sold in the distinctive rectangular bottles for the first time.

Over the course of the early 1900s, John Walker’s grandsons, Alexander Walker II and George Walker, established the colour-based naming system. It was in 1908 that the Johnnie Walker name was first put on bottles, after the Managing Director, James Stevenson, rebranded the range. It was around this time that the iconic walking man logo was conceived.

In 1909, Johnnie Walker Red Label was launched (it had previously existed with the name Walker’s Special Old Highland Red Label”). It was created by Alexander Walker as a whisky for blending with soda water and has a lighter character, which is suited to it. It is now the world’s most popular whisky.

The slightly more premium Black Label, made up of whiskies aged for at least 12 years, remains beloved the world over, and it’s enjoyed by critics and public alike; Jim Murray awarded the Black Label an impressive 95.5 points in his Whisky Bible.

The brand’s most illustrious blend is, of course, the Blue Label. Made with a variety of extremely well-aged malts, the overriding flavour is one of toffee and barley, with hints of peat smoke adding lovely complexity.

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About Johnnie Walker Branded Whisky

These limited edition bottles of Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve look like they've been handled by King Midas himself! Who knew he worked in Johnnie Walker's bottling department? The Gold Label... More info

King George V is a very special edition from Johnnie Walker, packaged beautifully and made to celebrate the Royal Warrant bestowed upon the company by the monarch. This is made with some of Johnnie... More info

A very special 2011 edition of Johnnie Walker's classic blend, Black Label. Double Black was originally released to the travel retail market, and it combines the rich, malty flavour of Black Label... More info

A special edition release of Johnnie Walker, this 21 year old expression was inspired by the blending notes of Sir Alexander Walker. Featuring whisky from the extensive Johnnie Walker stocks, the XR... More info

A new super-premium release from Johnnie Walker whose launch has been continuously celebrated by an extraordinary around the world journey of a 157 foot luxury yacht. The John Walker & Sons Voyager... More info

A half bottle of Johnnie Walker's classic Scotch blend. This was awarded 94 points in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible. Black Label is a 12 year old blend, blended from around 40 different whiskies. More info

An excellent collectible - this is a 1980s bottling of Johnnie Walker Swing, which is named after the motion the bottle makes when pushes. Very cool indeed. It even comes with the original... More info

Johnnie Walker devotees will be excited about this - a rare 1960s bottling of Johnnie Walker Black Label. Sadly, the label has suffered a fair bit of damage over the years, but this big bottle is... More info

A limited edition release of Johnnie Walker Blue Label, the brand's premium blend. It is presented with a stylish, angular box designed by the Porsche Design Studio, perfect for displaying the... More info

The second release in the John Walker & Sons Private Collection range. The first release was a "Unique Smoky Blend", whereas the 2015 edition focuses on the "Rare Fruit Character" of the Johnnie... More info

The John Walker & Sons Private Collection is to be a limited annual release for the renowned brand. The first edition, released in 2014, wears its intentions on its sleeve, with "A Unique Smoky Blend"... More info

An antique bottle of Johnnie Walker Red Label, one of the most well known blended whiskies worldwide. Well preserved since it was produced in the 1970s, this would be an excellent piece in a spirits... More info

The classic, the back-bar staple, the old favourite, Johnnie Walker Red Label. If you're a fan of the ol' Red Label, why not take a peek into its history with an antique bottle of it, produced over 30... More info

Take a walk through time with this collectible bottle of Johnnie Walker Red Label, produced in the 1980s and in great condition. Get it? "Walk through time"? We thought it was pretty clever too... More info

A 1970s bottling of Johnnie Walker Red Label blended Scotch whisky. This collectible bottle of the well known brand is a stylish piece of whisky history. Sadly, the label has faded quite heavily over... More info

If you're a big fan of Johnnie Walker Red Label, we're sure you'll be rather impressed with this massive bottle of the esteemed blend from the 1970s. Holding 4.5 litres, this awesome collectible even... More info

Only 330 bottles have been produced of this incredible rare and exclusive bottling made in memory of the founder of Johnnie Walker, John Walker himself. The whisky, which follows the heritage of the... More info

In celebration of the Ryder Cup returning to Scotland (the 2014 event is being held on the PGA Centenary Course at the Gleneagles Hotel), Johnnie Walker have released a limited edition bottling of... More info

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